USA > Ohio > Madison County > History of Madison County, Ohio : its people, industries and institution with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139
(21)
322
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
feet in length by fifty feet in width, with a thirty-eight-foot ceiling; at the west end was a gallery for the choir and organ, extending the whole width of the building; the tower was one hundred and ten feet in height, slated at the top, and the windows were twelve feet high, filled with beautiful and costly stained glass. The cost of this build- ing, with organ and bell, was twenty-two thousand dollars. In its day it was the largest church in the county and would seat about one thousand persons.
The cornerstone of this edifice was laid on September 17, 1865. Bishop Sylvester II. Rosecrans delivered an explanatory discourse on the Catholic faith, immediately after which he administered confirmation to about fifty persons. A small tin box, con- taining the date of the ceremonies, the names of the bishop, pastor and other facts relating to the church, was deposited in the cornerstone. The building was dedicated by Archbishop Jolm B. Purcell on Sunday, November 18, 1866. Many visitors came from the neighboring cities, and at eleven o'clock a grand procession was formed at the old church, headed by a Columbus band. and proceeded to the new church. It was impossible for one-half of the crowd to get within the walls of the building. The arch- bishop delivered a short discourse outdoors, after which the crowd was admitted inside. The building was not yet seated, but it was supposed that fifteen hundred persons were admitted. The music on the occasion was furnished, by the choir of St. Patrick's church of Columbus. The following church dignitaries were in attendance from abroad : Archbishop John B. Purcell, from Cincinnati; Rev. Father Edward Fitzgerald, of Columbus; Rev. Father Joseph Retcker, D. D., Mt. St. Mary's Seminary, Cincinnati ; Rev. Father Thomas Blake, of Xenia, and Rev. Father J. N. Thisse, of Springfield.
Never of a rugged constitution, Father Conway, in 1877, was compelled to seek restoration of his health in a more congenial climate and went to California. His health rapidly improved and in a short time he was assigned to a parish in the distant West. His efforts permanently to regain his health were not rewarded, however, and he died in California and was buried on the 13th of August, 1896, from the church he built in London, his first love.
In a short sketch of his life from the pen of the Rev. Father P. H. Cusack the following is found: "When we consider the almost impassable condition of the roads of Madison county during the first years of Father Conway's labors. the long distances he had to journey by day and by night to visit the sick and the dying, the slender resources on which he had to draw, and that his work was done almost single-handed, we marvel at his courage and perseverance."
Rev. Father John Conway was pastor of St. Patrick's church from Christmas. 1864. until June, 1877, his assistants having been the Rev. Fathers J. Maroney and Rowe- kamp. During Father Conway's absence from the church while in Europe, the priests of St. Patrick's church were the Rev. Fathers P. H. Cusack, J. J. Kennedy and B. F. Mueller. Rev. Father Michael Hayes served from June, 1877, until August, 1878. Rev. Father James Burns, from Angust, 1878, until January, 1881, with assistants, Fathers Michael Hayes and Charles McCallion. From January to October, 1881, Rev. Father Brummer. Rev. Father Clement M. Berding. October, 1881, until 1884: assistant, Rev. Father James O'Kieffe. Rev. Father William D. Hickey, 1884 until 1891. Rev. Father Francis M. Wimsey, 1891 until 1894; assistants, Fathers Shea and Denning. Rev. Father Patrick Cusack, 1894 until 1906; assistants, Rev. Fathers Connelly. William ('lark, Cotter and Dennis M. Halpin, Rev. Father Abraham McNamara took charge on January 1, 1906, and is the present priest.
During the interim intervening between the pastorate of Father Conway and the advent of Father McNamara, in 1906. scarcely any improvement was made on the property of the church ; the property of the parish bore approximately the same rela- tion to the times as it did upon the arrival of Father Conway. To the remedy of these
-
323
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
conditions Father McNamara devoted years of industry, energy and perseverance which bore fruit in the present becoming, modern and beautiful structure at a total cost, in money, of the sum of forty-six thousand eight hundred and sixty-three dollars and sixty-two cents. For the purpose of liquidating this indebtedness, the regular monthly collection was established, and the generosity of the parishioners and of Father McNa- mara is manifested iu the fact that at present this debt is very small, and the day is not far distant when the people of the congregation may proudly boast that they owe no man anything but their love.
SKETCH OF THE PASTOR.
Rev. Abraham McNamara, the pastor of St. Patrick's, was born in Belfast, Ireland, and was one of a large family of children, seven of whom are still living. His father, James McNamara, was a prosperous and successful linen merchant in the city of Belfast.
At the age of ten Abraham McNamara entered St. Michael's Seminary, afterwards pursuing his studies in St. Colman's Seminary, County Down. When seventeen years of age he entered the Grand Seminary of France aud completed his studies at St. John's iu Waterford, Ireland. Thus receiving a brilliant and classical education, he was ordained to the priesthood at the early age of twenty-three. After serving as pastor of different churches in Ireland, Father McNamara crossed the Atlantic to Amer- ica, coming to archdiocese of Cincinnati, and has been priest at Urbana, Dayton and Eaton parishes; on January 1, 1906, he came to Loudon.
The old brick church of St. Patrick's is now no more; a glance at the exterior reveals to the eye a perfect stone structure; as its stands today, the church is one hundred and twenty-five feet long, fifty feet wide and the tall spire, surmounted by a gold cross, is one hundred and fifty feet high. Built in pure Gothic style of the four- teenth century, it is a triumph of architectural and decorative art, this style of archi- tecture being carried out in the interior even to the smallest detail.
On eutering the church the eye rests first on the beautiful and costly sanctuary lamp, then to the marble main altar, with its two adoring angels, up to the transept window on which is seen the ecclesiastical dove and on higher to the matchless gold ceiling.
The interior decorations are dignified warm tones of French Caen stone, worked out by hand, deeply carved in Gothic detail, the artist having followed the grape-leaf and fruit motif, typical of the antique school. "The band above the Carrara marble wainscot is worked out in purples, grays and gold, while a fitting climax of color is found in the treatment of the sanctuary. The entire ceiling of the sanctuary and side altars is laid iu gold leaf and glazed over in gold mosaic effect, giving that beauty and richuess to the dull gold only obtainable by this method of treatment. Below the gold mosaic and extending to the floor is worked out a soft velvet hauging in royal blue, giving a beautiful background to the altars. The two side altars are similar in design and appearance to that of the main altar and standing out in relief on one is the Aununciation and the Visitation, while on the other is the Flight into Egypt and the Home of the Holy Family; each altar's tabernacle door of gold has the chalice and Sacred Host, which can be plainly seen throughout the church.
The sanctuary is approached by three steps and the marble-like floor is old rose in color. Across the front is the massive sanctuary rail with pillars of ouyx, and tastefully carved on the entire rail, in relief, are the emblems of the Holy Eucharist. namely, sheaves of wheat and bunches of grapes. The pews are all new, oak, Gothic in design, golden green in color, a color which is rare and costly; the confessionals are of the same material and color.
The church has life-size statues of St. Patrick (a gift of the pastor) and the
324
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
Sacred Heart in the sanctuary; in niches on the wall statues of St. Anthony and St. Aloysius, while in the arch beneath the winding stairs to the gallery is the lovely Pieta. The stations of the cross, representing the journey of Christ to Calvary are done in statuary work.
It is seldom that in a town the size of London such lovely decorative work is seen The weekday chapel, frescoed in chaste designs, and two sacristies, are in the rear of the church. Not only has Father MeNamara remodeled the church, but he has also built a handsome pastoral residence of pressed brick. renaissance in architecture, con- taining fourteen rooms, finished in quartered oak, and up to date in all its departments.
Since his arrival in London, Father MeNamara labored with unremitting and indefatigable energy until at last he had the great satisfaction of seeing his efforts crowned with complete success, when the church was consecrated to God on April 23, 1911.
STS. SIMON AND JUDE'S CATHOLIC CHURCH OF WEST JEFFERSON.
Although the settlement of Catholics between Columbus and Springfield dates quite early, the communieants of this faith were very sparse in number for a long time. However, about every three months they were visited by different elergymen. who held services in the respective dwellings of the members, and subsequently in the town hall of Jefferson. In this manner was Catholicism nursed in its infancy in Jefferson town- ship, but not until about the year 1864 was the subject of a church edifice agitated. when Rev. John M. Conway took the matter in charge. Soon afterward a subscription was begun and was well patronized. In 1866, Edward Buck donated a lot for the church, and in the spring of 1867 the foundation was begun and the cornerstone was laid on May 19, of the same year, by the Rt. Rev. Sylvester HI. Rosecrans, bishop of Columbus, Ohio. The building is of brick and was completed to the tower under the management of Father Conway. It was dedicated by Bishop Edward Fitzgerald, of Little Rock, Arkansas. October 31. 1869, and was later served by the Revs. F. McGrath, J. M. Thisse, J. A. Burns, II. Kiffmeyer and W. F. O'Rourke, under the supervision of Father Conway, but in March of 1873. Rev. B. M. Müller took charge and continued to serve the church for many years. In the meantime the standing debt had been released, and, during 1879. a tower and belfry, ninety-one feet in height. was erected and furnished with a bell of one thousand two hundred and thirty-four pounds, at a total cost, building and all, of about seven thousand dollars. Sinee Father Müller's time there have been several changes in the pastoral direction of the parish. Rev. M. E. Heintz was in charge in 1904. He was succeeded by Father Dickhouse and he in turn by the present priest, Father Russell. The parsonage was built during the pastorate of Father Heintz, at a cost of about four thousand dollars.
CHAPTER XXVI. SECRET SOCIETIES.
MASONRY IN LONDON.
The ancient order of Free and Accepted Masons has had many zealous adherents in Madison county from the very earliest period, and the history of the various lodges over the county show one long line of loyal members who have earnestly studied and transferred the ever-increasing circle of the arts and sciences. In this field of endeavor London, the county seat, has naturally taken a leading part, and has assisted mate- rially in. continuing and passing on to succeeding generations the mysteries of the ancient craft.
CHANDLER LODGE NO. 138.
Chandler Lodge No. 138, Free and Accepted Masons, occupies commodious quar- ters, especially built for its accommodation, on the west side of South Main street, London, Ohio, on the third floor of the Farrar building. This lodge is now, and ever since its organization, has been in a flourishing condition.
Its original charter bore the date of May 8, 1846, but as the lodge suffered the fate of so many buildings and organizations in "the great fire" of the fifties, when its charter, books, records and its all (materially considered) were consumed in the flames, it is now impossible to furnish a correct or complete list of its charter members. The "new" charter was granted on October 18, 1854, and authorizes John Dungan to act as worshipful master: Foster L. Downing as senior warden. and Albert R. Phifer as junior warden.
The present membership of the lodge is two hundred. and its present (1915) offi- cers are: Worshipful master, Ralph Van Dorn Coons; senior warden, Richard H. Robison; junior warden, Joe A. Gardner; treasurer, Omer E. Jones; secretary, George W. Clark; senior deacon, Downing Beach; junior deacon, Ben Van Wagener; tyler, Stanley Reed.
ADONIRAM CHAPTER NO. 73.
Adoniram Chapter No. 73. Royal Arch Masons, works under authority of a charter dated October 18, 1856, which bears the names of the following charter members: John Melvin, O. P. Crabb, David Haskel, Thomas J. Stutson, Toland Jones, Israel Fisher, Jeriah Swetland, Robert Alkire, William McClintock and B. H. Moore, and which authorizes David Haskel to serve as the first high priest, John Melvin as king. and O. P. Crabb as scribe.
The chapter has a present (1915) membership of one hundred and eight, with the following officers: High priest, A. Thad. O'Neall ; king, Oliver P. Crabb; scribe, Maxey B. Cannon; treasurer, Omer E. Jones; secretary, George W. Clark; captain of host. Martin W. Dungan; principal sojourner, John P. Skinner; royal arch captain, Robert W. Boyd; grand master of the third veil, Gustav Mitray; grand master of the second veil, Joe A. Gardner; grand master of the first veil, Bernard F. Wildman ;; guard, R. Lincoln Farrar.
LONDON COUNCIL NO. 41.
London Council No. 41. Royal and Select Masters, the "purple lodge," has a charter bearing the date of October 13, 1866. with the following charter members:
326
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
Harford Toland, John C. Sothron, Levi March, Oliver P. Crabb, William H. Chandler, John C. Coblentz, Jacob March, George H. Rowland, Samuel Cramer and M. M. Hutch- inson. The first officers of the council were: Thrice illustrious master, Harford Toland; deputy master, John C. Sothron ; principal conductor of the work, Levi March; captain of the guard. Oliver P. Crabb; treasurer, William II. Chandler; recorder, John C. Coblentz : sentinel, Jacob March. In addition to the above named officers, Samuel Cramer, George H. Rowland and M. M. Hutchinson, members, were present at the first meeting, held on October 1, 1866, under dispensation, when David Haskel, Dennis Bird, Jolin H. Kennedy and Rev. C. W. Finley were elected, and received the council degrees.
The present membership (1915) of the council is seventy-one, with the following list of officers: Thrice illustrious master, Maxey B. Cannon; deputy master, Oliver P. Crabb; principal conductor of the work, Richard H. Robison; treasurer, Omer E. Jones; recorder, George W. Clark; captain of the guard; Joe A. Gardner; conductor of council, Harford W. Gerrard; steward, Byers Adair; Sentinel, Robert M. Hamilton.
The council records bear the names of the following past thrice illustrious masters (living) : Harford Toland, Oliver P. Crabb, Martin W. Dungan, E. Pitzer Fisher, Bruce Paul Jones, C. Ed. Arbuckle, George W. Clark, John P. Skinner and Thurl A. Creamer. Chandler lodge, Adoniram chapter and London council occupy the same lodge rooms on South Main street.
URANIA LODGE NO. 311.
Urania Lodge No. 311, Free and Accepted Masons, of Plain City, was instituted by Grand Master Horace M. Stokes under a charter granted on October 21, 1858, to the following petitioners : John Beach, E. R. Cook, A. R. Downing, T. J. Downey, A. D. Doolittle, T. W. Fosha, R. J. Ferguson, Wesley Ferguson, Joseph Guiltner, John Holy- cross, Benjamin King, W. W. Norton and D. C. Wingeg. The first officers were A. R. Downing, worshipful master; E. R. Cook, senior warden; T. J. Downey, junior warden; W. W. Norton, senior deacon; D. C. Winget, junior deacon; Joseph Guitner, secretary ; A. D. Doolittle, treasurer; and W. Ferguson, tyler. The first candidate was E. W. Barlow, now of the Barlow, Kent Furniture Company, of Urbana, Ohio, and A. G. Curry was the second. The lodge has always occupied a beautiful room on the third floor of the building over the First State Bank. The lodge owns the third floor of this building. There are at present ninety-eight members in good standing.
The present officers are E. M. Kile, master; Dale Powell, senior warden; John Geese, junior warden; S. M. Jones, treasurer; C. Zimmerman, secretary (Mr. Zim- merman died on June 14, 1915, and his successor has not been chosen) ; M. J. Jenkins, senior deacon; Henry Wenzel, junior deacon; W. G. Allen, tyler; and F. J. Kahler, Ernest Beach and Isaac Strosnider, trustees. The past masters of the lodge are A. Downing, 1858; E. R. Cook, 1859; A. Doolittle, 1860; M. B. Curry, 1861; W. W. Norton, 1862; R. G. Graham, 1863, 1864, 1867, 1870; R. Hahn, 1865; Thomas Jones, 1866; E. W. Barlow, 1869; J. T. Black, 1871, 1873, 1875, 1879 ; C. L. Barlow, 1872, 1874, 1876, 1884, 1885 ; R. C. McCloud, 1877. 1878, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883; M. B. Smith, 1886; D. L. Lombard, 1887, H. C. Black. 1888, 1889; T. K. Sherwood, 1890, 1891; H. B. Converse, 1892, 1894; E. H. Malott, 1895, 1896: B. A. Talor, 1897, 1898; E. Beach, 1899, 1900; F. M. Mattoon, 1901, 1902; F. J. Kahler, 1903, 1904; C. H. Lucas, 1905, 1906; Henry Wenzel, 1907, 1908; C. M. Jones. 1909; J. E. Strayer, 1910, 1911; M. J. Jenkins, 1912, 1913; and Elton M. Kile, 1914.
LEANORE LODGE NO. 512.
Leanore Lodge No. 512, Free and Accepted Masons, at Sedalia, was organized on October 26, 1875, with the following charter members: Jeriah Sweatland, Addison P. Hewitt, Samuel J. Paullin, David T. Yates, John H. Peters, Frank Wursley, John H. Kellough, Thomas S. Davis, John R. Griffith, Henry McCann and James M. Hurrell.
327
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
The first officers were Jerialı Sweatland, worshipful master; A. P. Hewitt, senior war- den; D. T. Yates, junior warden; Henry McCann, treasurer; S. J. Paullin, secretary ; T. S. Davis, senior deacon; J. H. Kellough, junior deacon; J. R. Griffith, tyler.
The building where the meetings are held was erected in 1875 and the second story was purchased by the lodge .for seven hundred and fifty dollars. The present mem- bership numbers seventy-two. The present officers are C. S. Bethards, worshipful mas- ter; S. L. Rowe, senior warden; Leroy Binns, junior warden; C. C. Hewitt, treasurer ; George T. Williams, secretary; P. C. Meyers, senior deacon; Fred Dorn, junior dea- con; J. H. Chenoweth, J. C. Hankins, stewards; Nathaniel Gillispie, chaplain; Charles Armstrong, tyler.
Madison Lodge No. 221, Free and Accepted Masons, located at West Jefferson, was founded under dispensation from the hands of Grand Master W. B. Hubbard, on January 30, 1852, with the following charter members; Benjamin Crabbe, John Melvin, T. J. Stutson, O. P. Crabbe, Rev. George J. Archer, Samuel Davidson, Richard Acton and James Parks. Under the dispensation Benjamin Crabbe acted as worshipful master; John Melvin, as senior warden, and T. J. Stutson, as junior warden. On October 22, 1852, a charter was granted to this group by the grand lodge of Ohio. At the first meeting after the lodge had been chartered the following officers were elected: Benjamin Crabbe, worshipful master; John Melvin, senior warden; Thomas J. Stutson, junior warden : James Parks, treasurer; O. P. Crabbe, secretary; Samuel Davidson, senior deacon ; Albert Downing, junior deacon; Richard Acton, tyler. 'The lodge then consisted of nine- teen members. The first meetings of the society were held in the upstairs room of the building now owned and occupied by. W. H. Pence, undertaker; from there they moved to the Hoe building, now occupied by the Oder's grocery, their meetings being held there for forty-five years. They moved to their present beautiful room, over the Commercial Bank, in 1909. This lodge has one charter member that is still living, Judge O. P. Crabbe, who now resides with his son-in-law, Richard McCloud, in London. T. J. Stutson, who died in 1913, served as master of this lodge for about thirty-five years, a record of which the lodge is proud. Jacob McNeal served as secretary for a similar length of time. The present officers are: S. C. Smith, worshipful master; F. G. Brown, senior warden; F. L. Olney, junior warden; Charles G. High, treasurer; Walter Jones, secre- tary ; L. C. Dick, senior deacon; S. G. Feder, junior deacon; H. C. Wilson, tyler, and John Baker and Harry Ingalls, stewards. There are no trustees.
Mt. Sterling Lodge No. 269, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized in July, 1855. : with the following charter members; N. J. D. Kauffett, Samuel Vance, Smiley Hughes. Isaac Myers, Scott. Harrison, William Mcclintock, J. Swetland. Samuel Mcclintock. Robert Alkire, Toland Jones, B. H. Jones, William Harrison, Adam. Young, G. Neff and W. L. Cook. The first officers included Toland Jones, worshipful master ; N. J. D. Kauffelt. senior warden; Scott Harrison, junior warden. The lodge owns the second story of a brick building which it acquired several years ago at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. The present membership is one hundred and fifty-three. The past masters of the lodge are : N. J. D. Kauffelt, William McClintock, B. H. Moore, G. N. Alkire, Reuben Newman .. A. B. Hughs, J. W. Ingrim, W. H. Emery, S. F. Rock, Sherman Leach, P. W. Junk, A. R. Parker, George Hornbeck, J. G. Loofbourrow, B. W. Leavell, C. D. Finley, E. T. Snyder. John R. Tanner, Robert Leach, C. T. Gallagher. W. G. Lewis, W. F. Cox, T. E. Smith. C. P. Corkwell, S. E. Hughs, B. H. Edgington, C. E. Dick. The officers for 1915 are as follow : F. H. Dike, worshipful master ; V. L. Cox, senior warden ; W. G. Alkire, junior warden ; S. E. Hughs, treasurer ; O. J. Ray, secretary ; Rev. H. J. Duckworth, chaplain : C. M. Neff, senior deacon ; E. D. Blaine, junior deacon; C. E. Dick, senior steward; W. . F. Cox, junior steward, Alvin Leach, tyler.
328
MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.
DAUGHTERS OF THE EASTERN STAR.
Mt. Sterling Chapter No. 74, Daughters of the Eastern Star, was instituted January 1. 1897. the charter being granted on October 24, 1897. The charter members were Lou Wilson, II. C. Wilson, Siddie Burgett, T. J. Burgett, Adeline Bragg. W. N. Bragg, Myrta Ilewitt, Jeunie Hanawalt, Julia Finley, Inez Leavell, B. W. Leavell, Hulda Loofbourrow. I. G. Loofbourrow, Lulu Lightle, Kate Riddle, Cinda Lilley, Anna Davis, N. J. D. Kauffelt, Ella Hornbeck, E. C. Hornbeck, Bertha Kobelsperger. A. B. Hughs, R. B. Wittich. The first officers were as follow : Lou Wilson, worthy matron; N. J. D. Kauffelt, worthy patron : Adaline Bragg, assistant matron. The present officers are as follow: Worthy matron. Lillie M. Ray : worthy patrou. W. F. Cox ; associate matron. Edua Hewitt ; secre- tary. Loretta Dick; treasurer, Lola Beale: conductress, Leah Maud Finley; associate conductress, Sylva Hughs; Adah, Ida MI. Cox; Ruth, Lillie Henkle; Esther, Stella Beale; Martha, Vona Corkwell ; Electa, Mabel Hughs; warden, Rachel Clanson ; sentinel, C. D. Finley ; chaplain, Lida E. Schryver; pianist, Zoa W. Adkins; marshal, Lillie Snyder. The past worthy matrons are, Lou Wilson, Adeline Bragg, Siddie Burgett, Inez Leavell, Julia Finley, Lulu Lightle, Ella Hornbeck. Ella Zahn, Bessie F. Boice, Zoa Adkins, Maud Noble Huffman, Nellie Tanner, Louetta Dick. The past worthy patrons are, N. J. D. Kauffelt, J. G. Loofbourrow, H. C. Wilson. W. N. Bragg. B. W. Leavell, C. D. Finley. W. E. Fulton, F. H. Dike. C. E. Dick. W. F. Cox, E. T. Snyder. S. E. Hughs, Lida E. Schryver.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.
West Jefferson Lodge No. 412, located at West Jefferson, was instituted under a dispensation from the grand lodge of Ohio by James Turner, grand master, on the night of June 2. 1869, with the following charter members: J. C. Blair, David Oakley, William Wallace Fellows, J. H. Randall, Gilbert C. Deems. William Peene, and William C. Willing, with J. C. Blair, as noble grand; J. H. Randall, vice-grand ; Gilbert C. Deems, secretary, and William W. Fellows, treasurer. On the evening of the first meeting. the following made written applications and were initiated : A. D. Burnham, W. H. Stutson, N. B. Blair, Martin Kuehner, J. A. Beals. W. E. Oakley and Wilson Jones. The present officers are. Wilson Johnson, noble grand ; J. C. Dick, vice-grand ; Frank Burrell, secretary ; J. A. Baer, treasurer: D. S. Busick. chaplain ; John Borland. inner guard; Leonard Johnson, onter guard : Harvey Johnson, warden; W. R. Borland. conductor: Alpheus, right sup- porter to the noble grand; William Haislett, left supporter to the noble grand; J. C. Deemis, right supporter to the vice-grand; MI. R. Roberts, left supporter to the vice-grand ; Oscar Hopfe, right senior supporter ; Clarence Russell, left senior supporter; and Harvey Johnson, J. H. Harvey and Alpheus Burrell, trustees. This lodge was probably at the height of its prosperity during the nineties. At that time it had about two hundred mem- bers and won the first prize for the greatest increase in membership. At that time also it was in good financial condition and contemplated purchasing the Olney building on the corner of Main and West streets. It has never owned any buildings. Its hall is located over the Commercial Bank, on Main street. At the present time (1915) it has fifty-four members in good standing, of which about thirty-five have served as noble graud.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.